Redefining the Dream {by Anna}

Anna at Glitter Small World wrote the entry below recently.  

When I share my heart for Africa with people I often get asked the same question...why would you want to be there for any longer than you have to?  

...I couldn't have said it better.

"someone asked me the other day

why my dream is to live in africa.

it's so dirty there, they said.

it's so full of poverty.

in ways, that could be true,

but let me redefine my dream

for you.

my dream is to wake up to a simple world,

where having a little is enough,

and where i share that little with my neighbor,

and he shares his little with me.

i want to wake up to a world where

relationships are more valued than time,

and joy is more valued than materials.

i want my babies, no matter what color they are,

to be accepted by others,

no matter what color they are.

my dream is to understand how it feels

to live with less.

it is for those who are living with less 

to understand how it feels

to live with more.

i want every family to drink clean water.

my dream isn't to adopt.

that is just one way i can help

get closer to the real dream:

that as the lists for waiting families run long,

they tell us there are no more orphans left-

they have all gone home.

i dream of a day where beautiful people

don't live in garbage dumps.

i dream of a day when other beautiful people step in

and invite those slum children over for dinner.

my dream isn't just to live in africa

but for the grace of africa to live in me.

i dream of a day where i'm more giving

more trusting

more gracious

more joyful

more forgiving

just like that continent has always been to me.

my dream isn't for lucas

to be here.

my dream is simply that by telling everyone

about him,

and where he is now,

that they would want to meet him,

and go there, too.

you see, friends,

living in africa isn't the dream.

africa living in me is."